Hand and finger protector



April i9, 1927.

I as. CONDON HAND AND FINGER PROTE CIOR Original Filed Aug. 24. 1925 INVENTOR process the members of the bag Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

noovnn com- PANY, A CORPGRATION OF OHIO..

HAND AND FINGER PROTECTOR.

My present invention relates to hand and finger protecting devices, and more particularly to such a 'device for the handle of vacuum-cleaner dust-bags.

In practically every make of vacuum cleaners provided with a bag for collecting the dust, the bag during the machines operation is connected with its top tothe operating handle of the machine, and in the type commonly known as the Hoover, the dust bag has resilient connection with the closed end of the bag by means of a handle comprising a pair of tapering, pivotally-con nected, spring-actuated and self-closing members so that, whether the operating handle is raised or lowered, the bag is automatically held in the proper position.

When the bag has beenremoved from the machine for emptying. it after the cleaning operation, theoperator steps on the metallic ring member by which the bag is secured to the machine, and by holding the bag at the top in a tensely stretched relation and gently shaking it, removes the dust, During this handle are caused to move pivotally back and forth scissor-like while the operator grips the handle with the hand. Thus, having had the hand orfingers pinched and some times painfully hurt, many operators prefer to engage or fold the top of the cloth bag over the handle in order to avoid injury to their hands and fingers. Again, continual folding of the bag is detrimental thereto, and causes a leak therein so that the bag soon becomes-inoperative and must be re aired.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a means adapted to be attached to a dust-bag handle for vacuum cleaners of the Hoover type, or the like, for preventing apersons hand and fingers from being pinched by the members when. the handle is gripped and operated so as to cause pivotal movement back and forth of the ,handle members to accomplish a bellow-like move ment of the bag for the removal of the dust therein and out through the bottom or mouth of the bag.

"In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is'a side elevation of a dust bag provided with a met-allic handle for. a vacuum cleaner 'of the .Hoover type and a handand finger protector of my invention attached thereto and depending therefrom; v

Application filed August; 24, 1925, Serial No. 52,142. Renewed February 26, 1927.

Fig. 2 is a transverse mid-section of the handle and my protector attached thereto in the grip of a person's hand, and shows how the protector folds over the sides of the handle and thereby prevents pinching of the hand and. fingers by the members of the handle;

Fig 3 is a side elevation of the handle when open to hold the bag tensely stretched, and my attached protector is shown in snug engagement with the handle as if held thereto by the hand; the upper corners of the bag are shown and the means for their at tachment to the handle;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a woman as she grips the bag in the proce:s of emptying it after the cleaning operation; and.

Fig. 5 is a plan of my protector in full lines and of the handle in dot-and-dash lines, showing the tapering members of the handle and the width of the protector as compared with that of the handle, and also how the loops on the protector hold it in virtually central relation to the handle. V In Fig. 1 is shown a dustbag 6 for a vacuum cleaner of the Hoover type. The

bag at its open end is provided with the usual ring member 7 for connection with a vaculim cleaner and at its closed-end is provided with hooks 8 for attaching it to the bag handle or holder 9. The latter comprises two tapering, pivotally connected, spring actuated, self-closingand' similarly shaped members 10. l The members [overlap each other and. have their overlapping portions 11 provided with terminal eyes 12, adapted to receive therein the hooks of the strap b which the handle or holder is attached to the operating handle of the cleaner, these latter parts not being necessary for the understanding of my invention are therefore not shown. My protector 14 comprises an element 15 of any suitable flexible material, such as cloth, for example, and is preferably made of more than one thickness of the cloth and sewed along its edges, as is shown at 16 in Fig. 5, so as to form a pliant pad-like member adapted to fold over the edges of the handle 9. At each end of the element 15 I provide a loop '17, which may be madeof the same material as the element itselfor other textile ,fabric, but is preferably-made of wire and sewed to the element, as at 18 in Fig. 5. The loops 17 fit over the tapering members 10 of the handle so that when the virtually central relation thereto.

In order to attach my protector to the handle of the dustbag 6, one loop 17 is slipped over the end of one member 10; the

members are then moved pivotally so as to permit the other loop to be slipped over" the end of the other, member 10, and the springactuated membersare thereafter allowed to close to normal position, thus securing the protector to the handle at the underside thereof.

When it is desired to empty the dust bag, the operator detaches the bag from the machine and grips the liandle of the bag, and spreading a paper or other protective covering upon the floor, steps upon the outwardly projecting ears of the ring member 7, and by gently shaking the bag removes the dust from the bag to the protective floor covering. During; this operation the members 10 will be moved pivotally back and forth to cause the bag to bellow to dislodge the dirt, but no injury can be caused to the operators hand or fingers by such pivotal movement on ac- ,count of my protector, which folds itself over the members of the handle and follows their pivotal movement so that the protector receives the pinches the operator'otherwise would have suffered.

My protector having been attached to the handle of the dust bag may be left there as a ermanent part of the handle.

aving thus described my invention and being desirous of securing Letters Patent. 01 the United States therefor, I claim. as new the following:

A hand and finger protector comprising an element made of a flexible material; and a loop at each end of the elementyeach of said loops being adapted to engage one mem ber of a vacuum-clcaner dust-bag handle comprising two pivotally-connected and selfclosing members, so that the element is thereby held in a virtually central relation to the handle pivot, said element being of greater width than said membersso that it is adapted to fold over the members and to follow their pivotal movement in order to prevent a persons hand and fingers from being; pinched by the members when the handle is gripped and operated so as to cause pivotal movement back and forth of said members.

In testimony whereof, I ailix my signature.

GERTRUDE G.-COND6N. 

